Annual hairgrass facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Annual hairgrass |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Subfamily: | Pooideae |
| Genus: | Deschampsia |
| Species: |
D. danthonioides
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| Binomial name | |
| Deschampsia danthonioides (Trin.) Munro
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Annual hairgrass is a type of grass known by its scientific name, Deschampsia danthonioides. This grass is native to many parts of western North America. You can find it from the Yukon Territory and British Columbia in Canada, all the way through the Western United States and California, down to Baja California in Mexico. It also grows in southern South America, in countries like Chile and Argentina.
This grass is called an "annual" grass because it completes its whole life cycle in just one year. It grows from a seed, produces new seeds, and then dies, all within a single growing season.
Where It Grows
Annual hairgrass is a bunchgrass. This means it grows in clumps or bunches, rather than spreading out widely. It likes places that are moist, but can also grow in areas that dry out later in the year.
You can often find it near the edges of ponds, in open meadows, and in grasslands. It grows in different types of natural areas, including mountain regions and chaparral areas, which are often dry and have shrubs.
What It Looks Like
The stems of Deschampsia danthonioides can grow either by themselves or in loose groups. They can reach a height of about 40 to 60 centimeters (about 16 to 24 inches) tall.
At the top of the stem, the grass has a special flower cluster called an inflorescence. This cluster can be narrow or spread out, with many thin branches. These branches hold small, V-shaped seed heads called spikelets.
